Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the situation in Amerli, Iraq

The Secretary-General welcomes the lifting of the siege on the town of Amerli in Iraq through the action of the Iraqi Security Forces, the Kurdish Peshmerga and others with air support from the United States. This has averted a major humanitarian as well as human rights disaster.

He expresses his appreciation to those who participated in lifting the siege, as well as to those countries providing assistance to the affected population through air drops.

The Secretary–General also welcomes the action of the UN Humanitarian Country Team who, in coordination with the local and national authorities, succeeded in distributing the first of a planned series of life-saving supply convoys to the children and families of Amerli.